Dual Citizens of Stonebridge Ranch and Downtown McKinney
At Tye Realty Group, we like to joke that we hold dual citizenship in Stonebridge Ranch and Historic Downtown McKinney. We live in one, work in the other, and spend enough time in both that we feel equally at home. There’s no second passport involved—just a deep appreciation for two places that have shaped our family’s life.
Our McKinney story began in 2006, when we bought our first home in Fountainview, a neighborhood in Stonebridge Ranch. We were putting down roots, and although we couldn’t have known it then, Stonebridge would become the place we kept coming back to.
Putting Down Roots in Regents Park
In 2009, we moved to Regents Park, another Stonebridge Ranch neighborhood. With its Craftsman-style homes, big front porches, and social neighbors, it was an easy place to feel connected. The porches weren’t just architectural details. They gave people a reason to sit outside, wave, stop for a conversation, and get to know one another.
Regents Park holds a special place in our story because it showed us how much a neighborhood can influence the way you live. We loved the homes, but the sense of community made it feel like ours.
Our Brief Adventure in Country Living
In 2016, we thought we wanted something different. A little land. More space. A taste of country living. So we bought a house on three acres east of Denton and rented out our Regents Park home.
It didn’t take long for us to miss McKinney.
We missed our neighborhood, familiar faces, and the everyday connections we had built here. The country had its appeal, but we realized how much we valued the life we already had. Fortunately, we had kept our Regents Park house, so when we could, we moved back.
Sometimes you have to leave a place to understand just how much it feels like home.
Finding Home in Hills Creek
About three years ago, we moved to our current home in Hills Creek—also in Stonebridge Ranch. Apparently, our commitment to Stonebridge runs pretty deep.
Hills Creek is one of the earlier Stonebridge neighborhoods, and that history is part of its charm. Very mature trees, hilly terrain, and established landscaping give it a settled, peaceful feel. Many homes have big yards or golf course views, and the neighborhood has a character that comes with time.
We love its quaint streets and the amenities that come with living in Stonebridge Ranch. It’s easy to see why we’ve become a little spoiled.
Our Other Home: Downtown McKinney
The other half of our “dual citizenship” is Historic Downtown McKinney. We own a commercial building on the Square, where I have my office, and we’re downtown pretty much every day—including weekends.
Downtown is woven into our routine. We work here, eat here, visit with friends and fellow business owners, and find ourselves coming back even when there’s no work to do. Spending that much time on the Square gives us a personal connection to the people and places that make it special.
We’ve dreamed for years about living downtown someday. There’s something appealing about stepping outside your front door and being part of the daily life of the Square. Then we go home to the trees, quiet streets, and amenities of Stonebridge Ranch, and we understand why that decision keeps getting postponed.
For now, we’re happy to maintain our unofficial dual citizenship.
Two Areas We Know Personally
At Tye Realty Group, we specialize in real estate in both Stonebridge Ranch and Historic Downtown McKinney. That focus comes from years of living, working, owning property, and building relationships in these communities.
We know that choosing a home is about more than bedrooms and square footage. It’s also about whether you picture yourself chatting with neighbors from a big front porch, enjoying a backyard beneath mature trees, or walking to dinner on the Square.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Stonebridge Ranch or Downtown McKinney, we’d love to help. These are the places we call home—and we enjoy helping other people find their place here, too.
– Jared Tye, Broker and Owner, Tye Realty Group
